MUTANT CHRONICLES is one of those projects
that have been in development for years with even John Carpenter attached to direct at one time. In 2005, director Simon Hunter became attached to the project. He
made a promotional teaser film to attract investors and actors to the project. With
a script by Phillip Eisner (the same guy who wrote EVENT HORIZON), production finally began in 2006.
MUTANT CHRONICLES features an excellent
cast (Thomas Jane (who wisely ducked out of the Punisher sequel), Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki, Sean Pertwee (in too small of a
role), Anna Walton, and a very small role for John Malkovich. The film takes place in the 26th cnetury in an alternate
universe where spaceships are steam powered and wars between four corporations are fought out like World War One trench warfare.
Then that big war falls apart when a tomb containing an evil alien machine cracks open and evil mutants come out to kill all
(and take people away to be turned into more mutants with teh use of the machine). Ron Perlman is a monk
who recruits a group of soldiers on what is basically a suicide mission to destroy the alien machine. MUTANT
CHRONICLES is a very fun and action driven B sci-fi film with fantastic visuals. The cast knew the type of film
they were signing up for. MUTANT CHRONICLES is the type of film that cult followings latch onto.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Disc One has an audio commentary for the
film by Director Simon Hunter and Actor Ron Perlman.
Disc Two starts out with the same trailers
that start out Disc One. The majority of the extras can be found on this
disc and they are over three hours in total. THE MAKING OF MUTANT CHRONICLES:
A DOCUMENTARY is a feature length documentary that covers every detail of making the film from preproduction to production
at Sheperaton Studios and Isle Of Man to Models to 2 nd Unit shooting to Post Production. It is interesting to find out the film uses many old fashioned visual effects techniques and the
fate of one character was unfortunately changed due to test screening response.
Then the film has a few deleted scenes
that were unfortunately cut because I think the cut scenes actually add depth to the film and they are a part of the TV cut
that aired on the Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy). The eight minute Promotional
Teaser film (with optional audio commentary by Director Simon Hunter) is also included with a four minute making of the Teaser
film featurette. Various interviews with cast and crew are also on the
disc in addition to 12 webisodes (which vary in length from 1 1/2 to 3 minutes each).
Green Screen and Storyboard Comparisons
are shown for a few scenes. The Visual Effects Reel shows all of the different
CGI elements that went into one city shot while there are STORYBOARD AND Concept Art Galleries. The Comic-Con Q&A is entertaining which shows Thomas Jane’s odd behavior (the guy strips down
in the ADR suite in the making of documentary for example). Rounding out the
extras are the original theatrical trailer and HDNET: A LOOK AT MUTANT CHRONICLES.
FINAL ANALYSIS: MUTANT CHRONICLES is a very enjoyable sci-fi Steampunk B movie that will gather a cult following. The 2-disc has plenty of great extras for fans of the film.
This DVD review is (c)8-12-2009 David
Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
